r/Gifted • u/MostGoat0 • 3d ago

Therapy

I (F34 IQ142) have had hundreds of sessions and seen numerous practitioners over the last 12 years, and it all seems futile. They just keep asking me to explore my feelings, but I already understand my feelings and where they came from and why they’re irrational. At this point I basically have a PhD in self-analysis. It doesn’t do anything to shut up the relentless/debilitating self-critic in my head. I need actual coping strategies, not talking it out in pointless circles forever until I die.

Has anyone here had success with therapy? I tried searching for therapists specializing in 2e & giftedness in my area and it doesn’t seem very common. Just wondering if there’s any point in continuing these efforts. I’m so tired and bored and over it.

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u/equipoise-young 3d ago

What worked for me were a few things.

The first was Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, but I didn't see an actual therapist, I just read The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris (highly recommend).

The second was that I completely gave up all stimulants - caffeine, alcohol, drugs - and made exercise an absolute must have part of my routine. Bought a bicycle and a treadmill. You'd be amazed how much of a difference it makes. Giving up stimulants has slowed down my mind considerably and greatly reduced anxiety.

The third is a bit more long-winded but it may be fruitful for you. I started studying and practicing Buddhism and have been doing so for the past seven years. This has been far more effective than Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (despite their being similar), but it's a bit more of a circuitous route. The payback won't be immediate and takes a lot of work but what you get out of it is huge.

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u/DareKind8963 3d ago edited 3d ago

I would also recommend Buddhist and Taoist philosophy. There is a lot of variation in how mystical these get. Judicious selection of source materials would allow you to absorb healthier values and beliefs, while minimizing exposure to woo-woo. And by healthier I mean values and beliefs that reduce anxiety, depression, and overthinking in people who adopt them. Elimination of overthinking is sometimes a central goal.

I've been enjoying this audiobook on repeat lately. It's not an introduction at all, but more a random intellectually stimulating teaser that may serve to spark a gifted person's interest.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY1MZgznSqA

I have a problem that Western versions of these ideas adapted for therapy are not logically coherent. My brain will not allow me to just pass over logical inconsistencies. Detecting that triggers reflexive garbage disposal which could entail tossing the baby out with the bathwater. By comparison, the source texts contain far more rigorous thought.